Langley’s fine form continues with a tenacious away win

LANGLEY 1st XI continued their good form with another tenacious display away at Wistaston at the weekend.

Asked to bat on a wicket that offered seam movement, Langley soon found themselves in a deep hole as they collapsed to 29-5 and the batsman faced an uphill struggle.

Sunny Malik, 2, chipped to square leg, Dave Gregory, 12, mistimed a pull shot to mid-wicket, Pat Horgan, 9, was LBW.

Olly Wheelton, 0, was bowled first ball and Danny Brown, 1, was caught at slip.

It was left to Matty Betteridge and Dave Cowen to restore some order. The pair dug in and added 45 in 14 overs before Cowen, 26, was caught in the deep, deceived by a slower ball.

Betteridge was joined by Si Patterson, and the former was bowled with the score on 80 for a stubborn 25 an excellent knock under tough circumstances.

Patterson, 22, showed good resistance before misjudging a second run as Langley reached 111 off their 45 overs. Hogben was pick of the attack taking a fine 6-25.

In reply, Wistaston got off to a steady start reaching 14, before Paddy Turner trapped Jubbins, 6, LBW, Briddon, 3, followed a run later caught behind off Alex Berzins. Clark and Stokes saw off the opening bowlers and took the score to 37. The introduction of Patterson saw Stokes, 11, adjudged LBW, the spinner then had Clark, 6, caught at point by Wheelton with the score on 46,.

Botham and Barnes rallied both hitting some fine blows they quickly took the score to 68-4, with only 44 needed.

The game then turned on its head, Barnes 10 smashed Patterson out towards deep midwicket,

Turner rejuvenated in the field took a superb running catch. Skipper David Frame then had Allwood 0 caught at mid on by Brown in his first over and when Brown caught Botham, 20, at deep mid-off the homeside had lost 3 wickets for no runs.

Frame then had Thornhill, 1, superbly stumped by Horgan down the legside, Hobson 11 then chipped to Frame at mid-on and when Hogben 2 miscued a drive, Horgan took a simple catch as Wistaston folded to 83 all out losing their last 6 wickets for 15 runs.

Si Patterson was the stand out bowler taking 6-20 off 7 overs, backed up by Frame 2-3 off 3 overs

A great win for Langley skipper Frame once again was a happy man. The toss was crucial and the downpour just before the start meant batting would be tough.

Langley now sit in second place 15 points behind leaders Maritime and entertain Over Peover next weekend.